erful an engine as superstition? which they right well
perceiving, are of no religion at all themselves: _Primum enim_ (as Calvin
rightly suspects, the tenor and practice of their life proves), _arcanae
illius theologiae, quod apud eos regnat, caput est, nullum esse deum_, they
hold there is no God, as Leo X. did, Hildebrand the magician, Alexander
VI., Julius II., mere atheists, and which the common proverb amongst them
approves, [6412]"The worst Christians of Italy are the Romans, of the
Romans the priests are wildest, the lewdest priests are preferred to be
cardinals, and the baddest men amongst the cardinals is chosen to be pope,"
that is an epicure, as most part the popes are, infidels and Lucianists,
for so they think and believe; and what is said of Christ to be fables and
impostures, of heaven and hell, day of judgment, paradise, immortality of
the soul, are all,

[6413] "Rumores vacui, verbaque inania,
Et par sollicito fabula somnio."

"Dreams, toys, and old wives' tales." Yet as so many [6414]whetstones to
make other tools cut, but cut not themselves, though they be of no religion
at all, they will make others most devout and superstitious, by promises
and threats, compel, enforce from, and lead them by the nose like so many
bears in a line; when as their end is not to propagate the church, advance
God's kingdom, seek His glory or common good, but to enrich themselves, to
enlarge their territories, to domineer and compel them to stand in awe, to
live in subjection to the See of Rome. For what otherwise care they? _Si
mundus vult decipi, decipiatur_, "since the world wishes to be gulled, let
it be gulled," 'tis fit it should be so. And for which [6415]Austin cites
Varro to maintain his Roman religion, we may better apply to them: _multa
vera, quae vulgus scire non est utile; pleraque falsa, quae tamen uliter
existimare populum expedit_; some things are true, some false, which for
their own ends they will not have the gullish commonalty take notice of. As
well may witness their intolerable covetousness, strange forgeries,
fopperies, fooleries, unrighteous subtleties, impostures, illusions, new
doctrines, paradoxes, traditions, false miracles, which they have still
forged, to enthral, circumvent and subjugate them, to maintain their own
estates. [6416]One while by bulls, pardons, indulgencies, and their
doctrines of good works, that they be meritorious, hope of heaven, by that
means they have so fleeced t